WSJ: Macron and Scholz encourage Zelensky for peace talks
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for peace talks with russia.
It was a part of a tripartite meeting held in Paris in February, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Over dinner at the Élysée Palace, the sumptuous seat of the French presidency, Macron delivered a sober message. He told Zelensky even mortal enemies like France and Germany had to make peace after World War II.
France's leader said he had been a great leader but that he would eventually have to shift into political statesmanship and make difficult decisions.
Speaking afterwards at a security conference in Munich, Macron became one of the first Western leaders to publicly doubt whether Ukraine or russia could achieve their goals on the battlefield, saying neither side could win a military victory.
"What we need now is for Ukraine to launch a military offensive which pushes back the russian front in order to open the way for a return to negotiations." Macron said.
Zelensky said on Friday that he had repeatedly urged world leaders to press russian president vladimir putin for a meeting before the invasion, something that the russian leader refused.
"The atrocities committed by Russia over the past year make such talks impossible." the president said.
Leaders from the G7 group said in a statement they are prepared to make "security and other commitments to help Ukraine defend itself, secure its free and democratic future and deter future russian aggression."
So far, Central European officials said, the proposal has only been discussed on the margins, but they are broadly reluctant to sign off on any long-term NATO status for Ukraine that falls short of full membership in the alliance.
